Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Enrolling for this study plan is possible after having obtained one of the following degrees:
Academic Bachelor's programme agogische wetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme architectuur
Academic Bachelor's programme communicatiewetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme criminologische wetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme economische wetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme geografie
Academic Bachelor's programme geschiedenis
Academic Bachelor's programme ingenieurswetenschappen: architectuur
Academic Bachelor's programme politieke wetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme sociologie
Academic Bachelor's programme taal- en letterkunde
Academic Bachelor's programme toegepaste economische wetenschappen
Academic Bachelor's programme toegepaste economische wetenschappen: handelsingenieur
You may also be asked to provide additional documents so we may evaluate your application.
Puntenlijst / Transcript of records
Providing a genuinely interdisciplinary perspective on urban studies, students pursue a core trajectory of shared courses while enjoying the flexibility to specialize through individual selection from an extensive range of electives. Our education combines theoretical courses with field observation, excursions and hands-on applied activities. The programme is designed to cultivate a cohort of adept urban researchers and professionals capable of effecting meaningful change within the European context and beyond.
Programme structure
The 120 ECTS curriculum combines the attractiveness of a flexible, modular and interdisciplinary programme that allows you to focus on your own interests within the domain of urban studies, with a common core of compulsory courses to ensure that you develop the necessary urban skills and competences.
Year 1 is largely dedicated to the core set of compulsory courses (53 ECTS), introducing you to the field of interdisciplinary urban studies. This includes thematic and theoretical courses such as Urban Political Economy, Global Urban Studies, Urban History or Greening the City, a public lecture series (StadsSalonsUrbains) with a yearly changing line-up of international speakers, and a dedicated course on Brussels (Brussels, Reading the City). The core also offers hands-on methods and skills training in urban research with students working in small groups and interacting with public or private organizations (Project Seminar in Applied Urban Research). By organising various site visits in and around Brussels and excursions to cities in Europe, we benefit from our location in the centre of Europe. We also support you in developing your master's thesis (Research Design in Urban Studies) and there is limited space to choose a number of elective courses.
Following one year of core training in urban studies, in year 2 you can design your individual curriculum and specialize within subdomains of this exciting and sprawling field. As an interdisciplinary but also interuniversity and interdepartmental programme, we are able to offer a substantial list of elective courses from a variety of disciplines: from architecture to geography, from spatial planning to history and archaeology, from criminology to mobility studies, from urban design to migration studies, from socio-environmental studies to sociology and demography. Year 2 is also dedicated to researching for and writing your 30 ECTS master's thesis. In addition, students can choose to do an internship (15 ECTS) or go for a semester study exchange (21-30 ECTS) at one of our partner universities across Europe.
In year 1 the core compulsory courses focuses on the interdisciplinary urban studies, covering topics like Urban Political Economy, Global Urban Studies, Urban History, and Greening the City. Students engage in hands-on urban research, attend public lectures, visit sites in Brussels and other European cities.
30 ECTS of the common core is dedicated to the Master thesis. In the first year of your studies, you will choose a topic and develop your research design, whereas in the second year you will conduct most of the empirical research and write the actual thesis. Throughout the two-year process, there will be various moments of collective and individual supervision.
MA Urban Studies VUB/ULB: Common Core
All courses of the common core are compulsory.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 53 ECTS credits.
Common Core, year 2
The master's thesis is compulsory.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 30 ECTS credits.
| 30ECTS credits - Master's thesis |
Students can choose courses from a range of disciplines like architecture, geography, history, criminology, sociology, and more.
to choose:
- year 1: 7 ECTS-credits
- year 2: 30 ECTS-credits
To complete this module, students must obtain 37 ECTS credits.
Electives
Electives
Electives subject to approval
Electives subject to approval by the chairman of the examination commission.